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Friday, 17 August 2012

Gloucestershire Steam Extravaganza 2012 Report

It's always a joy and an education going to a steam rally and having such a good one on my doorstep meant another weekend out in Frank, a lot of sketching and dodging rain storms.

The Gloucester Steam Extravaganza took place at South Cerney Airfield, this is a huge venue which was definitely filled with Steam Engines, Commercials, Military vehicles, Tractors, Cars and Motorcycles. There was a huge amount to see and I was kept busy for three days, so I can highly recommend going next year, please keep an eye on the website for details of the 2013 event:

1901 Aveling and Porter RC10 "Prince Albert"

(digitally painted ink sketch)

This 10 ton Steam Roller "Prince Albert "made its first appearance at the Gloucestershire Extravaganza since 1937 at the Rally. It was bought as a wreck and intended as spares for another engine, "Queen Victoria" (see photo below), but it turned out that nothing could be used so instead the family that owned it decided to do a full restoration. Restorations on cars are one thing but a steam restoration is a major undertaking and I have huge admiration for anybody that achieves such magnificent results. "Prince Albert" worked on the North Circular in London among many other road works.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Family owned and run, Queen Victoria was bought in the fifties when it stopped it's working life. The weekend after it was purchased it was taken to a rally.

1919 Fowler K7 Ploughing Engine

(digitally painted ink sketch)

This rally was a real education for me and this was one of the highlights. A Ploughing engine, these would work in pairs using the underslung steel cable to drag a plough from one end of a field to another. Also due to the rain being on and off the owner gave me permission to uncover and cover it so I could continue sketching. This meant climbing all over the engine to get a big canvas cover on and off the motion on top, great fun!

Portable Engine

(ink sketch)

These small engines are the original steam engines that were used to power various machines. These would be moved about using horses, until those clever Victorians worked out they could move the engines under their own steam. These engines are very rare and it was great fun sketching it.

1912 Chenard Walcker

(digitally painted ink sketch)

This is a French veteran car, according to the information it was at one time fitted out as a pick up which I would have loved to have seen.

Field Marshall Tractor

(ink sketch)

I could not resist sketching this as it is possibly my favourite tractor.

PUCH

(ink sketch)

Greeves Scrambler

(ink sketch)

Here's some more pictures to show the huge range of attractions on display.

Steam

Steam Wagon

Pretty much an early for of a pickup. These could go pretty fast, some up to 60mph.

Two Tractor Engines the one below was very small indeed

Living Wagon

These would be towed behind steam rollers and would sleep up to 4 workmen as they worked on the roads